Laundrying-machine.



W. JK ZUILL. LAUNDRYING MACHINE. APPLICATION rump HAYS, 1910.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

a sums-sum 2..

A TTw'm/Ey W. J. ZUILL.

LAUNDRYING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 3, 1910.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

A TTORIVEK UNITE STATES PATENT o nIoE.

WALTER J'. ZUILL, F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

LAUNDRYING-MACHINE.

To all ivliom it may concern Be'it known that I, WALTER J. ZUILL, of

Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the ers for domestic "use.

3 3, Fig. 1, except that the driving gear The main object is to produce a machine which will effectually cleanse the coarsest OII finest clothing or fabrics in the least possible time without liability of mutilatin orotherwise injuring the fabric. This ob ect is best carried out by'the use of inverted cup-shape pistons reciprocally movable in the vat into and out of-cont-act with the clothes, so as to force the cleansing fluid back and forth through the interstices of the fabric by varying air pressures.

Another object is to transmit motion from the motor to the pistons without in any way obstructing or restricting the full opening in "the top of the vat for the free insertion and removal of the clothes.

A further object is to provide means for automatically and intermittingly shifting I the position of the pistons step by step rotarily so as to bring them into contact with all portions of the clothes during successive compression strokes.

Other objects and .uses will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor driven laundrying machine embodying thevarious features of my invention, portions of the vat being broken away to show the 'p'lungers and their supporting yoke and spindle. Fig. 2 is a. transverse, vertical sectional view taken on line 22, Fig. l, omitting-the motor. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line of the clutch "sections and bearings on the main drivingshaft and also the bearings for the counter-shaft are shown in section, Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the detached means for reciprocating and rotating the piston carrying the plunger. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional viewtaken on line 55 Fig. 1

Specification of Iietters Patent. Application file d .1ay 3,1910. Serial No. 559,168.

showing the means for adjustably securing the yoke to the head.

In carrying out the objects stated a cylindrical vat or tub 1 preferably of sheet metal for receiving the clothes and a suitable cleansing fluid is mounted u 'pon a series of, in this instance three, supporting legs '2 and is provided with a central uprighttubular guide 3 extending through the bottom thereof for'receiving and guiding a vertically movable tubular plunger 4 which extends entirely "through and some distance beyond thelower'and upper ends of the guide 3-. Movable within this tubular plunger -4 is a coil spring 5 having its lower end connected by an eyebolt -6 .to a suit-able cap, or limiting stop 7 which engages thelower end of the plunger 4@ The'upper end of the spring is connected by a similar eye-bolt or rod 8- to a: vertically movable head 9 lying directly over the upper end of the plunger 4-. Secured'to the head 9 is a pendent sleeve +10 which surrounds and extends downwardly some distance below the upper end of the plunger -4, so as to prevent as far as possible the water from enterin the upper end of said plunger. Within the s eeve 10- is a relatively movable plate or washer -11' which is spring pressed against the upper end of the plunger -4 by a coil spring 12, the latter being interposed between the plate l1 and under side of the head -9 and together with said plate constitutes a buffer or shock absorber for a purpose hereinafter described, said spring alsoserving to normally hold the plate l1 across the upper end of the tubular lunger to exclude water therefrom, This late -11 is provided with a central aperture closely fitting with an easy slidingfit upon the rod 8 to permit relative endwise plate and rod..

The coil spring "5 within the tubular plunger is'ten'sioned to draw the head 9 and its sleeve +10% downwardly with sufiici'ent pressurev toslightly compress the spring 12-;and thereby hold the plate -11'in contact with the upper end of the plunger, at the samemtime permitting the head and sleeve 'to'be held or moved upwardly against the action of the spring Patented Mar. 26, 191 2. i

movement of the 5 or to permit theplunger to be drawn to the sleeve so as to move vertically thereon, said yoke being provided with oppositely extending radial arms for receiving and supporting a plurality of, in this instance ftwo, inverted cup-shape pistons -15- which are located at opposite sides of and equi-distant'from the plunger -4- and are spaced apart a sufiicient distance to easily clear the tubular guide 3 when reciprocated in a manner presently described. These ;pistons 15- preferably consist of downwardly flaring hollow sheet metal cups or inverted basins having cylindrical stems 16- projecting upwardly from their apexes and rigidly secured to the outer ends of the radial arms of the yoke --13. The. diameter of the lower end of each of the pistons 15 is substantially equal to or slightly less than the radial distance between the periphery of the tubular guide 3 and inner-surface of the vat 1- leaving just sufiicient clearance to permit vertical movement of the pistons without'friction with either the vat or tubular uide.

The tubular guide 8 is secured in a central aperture -l7 in the bottom of the vat 1-, so as to form a water tight joint therewith and projects upwardly some distance into the vat, its upper end being provided with a stufling box or gland '-l8- to prevent the entrance-of water thereto.

The bottom of the ;vat is reinforced and stiffened by a somewhat heavier flat metal plate 19 which also serves as aconvenient means for supporting underlying parts of the machine, hereinafter described.

The supporting legs 2-, which are secured to the sidesof the vat, extend downwardly some distance below the bottom thereof for supporting the vat at a convenient height and their lower ends are provided with casters 20'- which permit the entire machine to be moved along the floor from place to place, as may be necessary. A triangularlframe 21 is secured at its apexes to the lower ends of the legs to brace the latter against relative lateral movement and together with said legs constitute the main supporting frame for the vat and other parts of the machine.

Driving means for the piston supporting pZunger.-The means for reciprocating the plunger 4: and pistons connected thereto is applied to the lower end of the plunger and is preferably located directly beneath the bottom-of the vat or tub -1, said means consisting in this instance of a rock arm or lever 23ha ving its outer ,end pivoted or fulcrumed at -24. to a, bracket -25, on the main supporting frame and its inner end connected by a link 26 to a grooved collar 27- on the lower end of the plunger some distance below the lower end of the sleeve 3. This rock arm or lever -23- may be operated by any suitable motor driven mechanism and for this purpose'I have shown in Figs. 1 and 3 an electric motor 28 as supported upon a bracket or shelf -2S- directly under the bottom of the vat 1, the bracket -28'- being secured to the main supporting frame. The motor shaft is connected by a belt 29 and pulleys 30 and 31 to a countershaft 32 which is journaled in suitable brackets 38- also forming a part of the main supporting frame and preferably secured to the under side of the bottom of the tub, as more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Secured to the countershaft 82 is a pinion 84: which meshes with a somewhat larger gear 35, the latter being loosely mounted upon a shaft.

36- for independent rotary and axial movement. Loosely mounted upon the same shaft at the inner end of the hub of the gear is a sleeve 36 which is journaled in the adjacent bracket -33 and is provided with a crank arm --37 rigid thereon and connected by a link -38 to the intermediate portion of the rock arm or lever 23. The inner end of the hub of the gear -35 is provided with suitable clutch teeth O which are movable into engagement with similar clutch teeth 41. on the sleeve 36- as the gear 35- is moved in one direction for the purpose of transmitting rotary motion to the crank arm 37 and thereby oscillating the rock arm -23'- to impart vertical reciprocal motion to the plunger -4 and pistons -15. The downward movement of the pistons and their supporting plungeris aided somewhat by gravity and in order that the motor may be relieved from excessive load in elevating the pistons I provide a retracting spring 4l2 having one end connected to a portion of the main supporting frame and its other end connected to the intermediate portion of the lever 23 said spring be ing tensioned to exert an up-lift on said lever, thereby aiding the motor in elevating the plunger t and pistons 15.

Any suitable means may be employed for shifting the gear -35 axially to lock it to the sleeve -'36, said means consisting in this instance of a lever 4c3 which is 'fulcrumed upon a suitable support -4:4

mittentlyshifted, step by step, a limited step by step, around the entire area oft-he cause the pistons to engage the clothes under considerable but yielding pressure, thereby ited by pressure upon the clothes the plun- I said sleeve and crank arm 37,and transthe tubular guide 3 and collar 27 or to the right of Fig. 2, the clutch -40- will be throw-n into interlocking engagement with the sleeve 36'. thereby rotating mit-ting vertical reciprocal motion to the pistons -15- through the medium of the plunger 4- and rock arm 23.

lmcrmiztz'ng planetary action of t/zeip'z'szows.During this reciprocal movement of the pistons the latter are rotarily and interdistance about the axis of the plunger 1-, so as to bring them into'contact with all portions-of the clothes during each complete revolution. For this purpose, a' ratchet wheel :L7 is secured to the lower end of the plunger between the adjacent ends of and is adapted to be engaged and operated, step by step, one or more teeth at a time, by.

a pawl 4S which is rigidly secured to the intermediate portion of the lever 23 some distance inwardly from its fulcrum or pivot 2'-l, the relative positions of the lever and pawl being such that when the plunger and pistons are elevated to nearly the limitof their upstroke,fthe pawl will engage and operate the ratchet wheel. one or more teeth, thereby rotating the plunger to shift the position of the pistons rotarily .a distance considerably less than their diameters, so as to cause said pistons to travel,

permitting the pistons to conform to varying thicknesses or varying degrees of resistance which may be offered by contact with the clothes.

The throw of the crank arm 37 is sufficient to move the pistons 15 from their extreme lip-position, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to a position in proximity to the bottom of the vat, thereby maintaining the full efliciency of the machine for light or heavy washings, itbeing understood that when the downward movement-0f the pistons is limger continues through its full downward stroke, thereby increasing the tension of the spring and consequently increasing the pressure of the pistons upon such. clothes, that is, when the washing is heavy and greater pressure is required this pressure is provided for in the increased tensioning of the spring under the limited action of the pistons.

As previously stated the pistons are hollow and conical, so that when brought into contact with the clothes the air is trapped and compressed therein, thus producing an .air cushion which on the compression stroke forces the cleansing fluid through the interstices of the fabric, while on the other hand during the lip-stroke a partial vacuum is formed in the pistons which operates to draw the water back through suchinter stices. The cleansing fluid is therefore forced back and forth through the fabric by varying air pressures which enables the finest of fabrics to be washed without liability of mutilation.

Wringer and operating mechanism theref0r.Any suitable wringer, as 50', may

be properly secured, as by clamping means 51, to the upper edge of one side of the vat 1 where it is easily available for use in connection With the washing operation and is adapted to be driven from, the same source of power as themotor 28. For this purpose the shaft of one of the wringer rolls is extended axially some distance .be-

yond the periphery of the vat 1- and provided with a pinion 52 which is. adapted to be rotated by one or the other of a pair of axially movable pinions 53 for operating the wringer rollers in reverse directions, when desired. The pinions -53 are secured to another upright axially movable shaft section 54 which is 'slidably connected to a coaxial shaft section -55, said shaft sections being locked for simultaneous rotation by a key or pin 5,6 riding in a slot --5T, as clearly shownin Fig. 2. The upper end of the shaft section 54- and, adjacent end of the wringer shaft are journaled in a suitable yoke- 58. which serves to hold the shaft section and wringer shaft in operative relation. In like manner the lower shaft section -55- and adjacent horizontal shaft 36-- are jour- The outer end of the hub of the gear -35- is provided, with a clutch section; 60- which is movable with said gear into and out of engagement with a coaxial clutch section 61, the latterbeing secured to the shaft- 36-, so that when the gear 35 is shifted axially by the lever t3 to disengage the clutch rl0 from the clutch section 41'on the sleeve 36, the clutch section 60 is interlocked with the clutch section -61, thereby rotating the'shaft 36 and stopping the reciprocal action of the pistons. This rotary mot-ion of the shaft -3 (5--- is transmitted to the up right shaft section 55 by means of interwringer and its operating mechanism as asopposed shoulders 68 on the shaft section -54 for moving said shaft section and its pinions 53 endwise as the lever -64 is operated. It is now apparent that avlien the lever is shifted to one extreme position, as shown in Fig. 2, the upperpinion 53 will be brought into engagement with the pinion 52 to operate the wringer rollers in one direction as in drawing the clothes from thevat, and when moved from the opposite extreme position the lower pinion 53 will be brought into engagement with the pinion 52 to reverse the direction of rotation of the wringer roll-s thus permitting the cloth, or garment to be passed back and forth between the rollers as many times as desired by simply shifting the lever 64 from one extreme position to the other; or by shifting the lever 64 to another intermediate position to disconnect both of the pinions 53- from the pinion 52- the 'operation of the wringer will cease.

Although I have shown and described a sociated with a washing machine, it is only to show a complete article of manufacture and is not herein claimed for the reason that it is reserved for a separate application.

Any suitable means may be employed for heating the washing fluid in the vat '1- and for this purpose I have shown a gas burner as mounted upon a supporting bracket on the main supporting frame directly under and in close proximity to the bottom of the tub and adapted to be connected by a valved pipe 72-- to a source of supply not shown. I

In operation the cup-shape pistons and their supporting plunger are driven wholly from the underside or beneath the vat leaving practically the entire top and interior of the vat open for the reception and removal of the clothes, it being understood that the pistons and their supporting yoke may be removed from the plunger by simply loosening the clamping means 14 and withdrawing the yoke and pistons upward. On the compression ,stroke of the pistons 15 when they encounter the clothes and their downward movement is temporarily checked, the plunger 4 continues to move downwardly, thereby withdrawing its upper end from the buffer plate or washer ,11,

to be moved axially by a lever so that when the plunger returns to reengage said plate it together with the spring ll acts as a buffer to prevent too sudden jar of the cooperating parts, the pawl 48 being brought into engagement with the ratchet wheel 47 during the up-stroke to shift the position of the pistons and cause them to come into contact with all portions of the clothes throughout the area of the vat. Then the washing is finished the lever 43 is shifted to disconnect the pistons and plunger from their operating means, as the motor, and to simultaneously connect said motor to the wringer operating mechanism, thus permitting the clothes to be passed through the wringer backward and forward the vat, a yoke mounted on the plunger and movable relatively thereto, a piston mounted on the yoke, spring connections between the plunger and yoke, and means connected to the plunger for reciprocating the same.

2. In a laundrying machine, a vat, a piston movable in the vat, means extending through the bottom of the vat for reciproeating the piston, said piston having an independent vertical movement relatively to said operating means and a ratchet and pawl action for rotating the piston as it is reciprocated.

3. In a laundrying machine; a vat, "a piston movable in the vat, means extending through the bottom of the vat for recipro cating the piston, and further means for intermittingly shifting the position of the piston circumferentially of the vat.-

4;. In a laundrying machine, a vat, a plunger extending through the bottom of the vat, a-yoke on the plunger, pistons secured to said yoke and movable within the vat. means for reciprocating said plunger,

and additional means for intermittingly ro- 'circumferentially of the vat.

6. In a laundrying machine, a vat, a plunger extending through 'the bottom of the yet, a yoke adjustably mounted 011 the .plunger, pistons mounted on the yoke at plunger extending through the bottom of the vat, a yoke adjustably mounted on the plunger, pistons mounted on the yoke at opposite sides of the plunger, yielding connections bet-ween the yoke and plunger, means connected to the lower end ofthe plunger for reciprocating the same, and additional means for intermittingly rotating the plunger to shift the positions of the pistons circumferentially of the vat. In witness whereof I have hereunto my hand on this27th day of April 1910.

\VALTER J. ZUILL.

set-

Witne'sses H. E. CHASE, D. L. HUMPrIREY. 

